Top Flite TOPA0220 - Manual (Page 39)

❏ 10. Glue the wing tips to each end of the wing.
They should be centered on the LE and TE. Glue a
piece of leftover 1/16" balsa on the TE of the tip as
shown on the plan.
MOUNT THE FUEL TANK
❏ 1. Assemble your tank using the instructions that
came with the tank. If your tank has a 90 degree
fitting, use it pointing to the left side of the tank.
❏
2. Insert the tank into the tank compartment and
confirm that the tank will fit properly. When the tank
is installed later you will use some 1/4" [6.4mm] foam
rubber on the sides and bottom of the tank to pad it
and hold it in place. Most 10 ounce tanks will fit, but
if yours is a bit too long it is ok to trim former F2 and
the wing leading edge as needed.
❏ 3. Remove the tank. Cut two hatch mount rails to a
length of 2-5/8" [66.7mm] from leftover 1/4" x 3/8" [6.4
x 9.5mm] basswood. Fit these rails to the front of the
fuse hold down block as shown in the photo and on the
plan. Glue the rails into place with 6-minute epoxy.
❏ 4. Fit the 1/4" x 2-7/8" x 3-5/8" [6.4 x 73 x 92.1mm]
balsa hatch to the tank compartment opening. You
will need to angle the front end to fit the right thrust
of the firewall. Hold the hatch in position and drill a
tap hole for a 10-32 tap through the hatch and the
1/4" x 3/8" [6.4 x 9.5mm] basswood rails under it.
Enlarge the hole
in the hatch only with a 3/16"
[4.8mm] drill and harden the hole with some thin CA.
Tap the hole in the basswood rails with a 10-32 tap.
Harden the hole with some thin CA and tap the hole
again when the CA has cured.
❏ 5. Cut one of the 1/8" x 1-1/4" [6.4 x 32mm]
dowels in half. Round one end of each dowel. Insert
the rounded end of each dowel in the 1/8" holes in
the firewall (F1). Clean and enlarge the holes as
needed for the dowels to have a loose fit.
❏
6. Put a drop of medium CA on the non-rounded end
of each dowel where it will contact the hatch. Do not get
any glue on the dowels where they insert into the
firewall. Place the hatch into position and hold it until the
CA cures. Remove the hatch with the 1/8" [3.2mm]
dowels attached. Reinforce the glue joint as needed to
be secure.
❏ 7. Cut a 10-32 x 2" [51mm] nylon bolt to a length of
1/2" [13mm].
ROUGH SAND THE MODEL
Time to get the long sanding block with 80-grit
sandpaper and start sanding, but there is good
news. This model was designed for a minimum of
sanding. About all that is needed is to round the
leading edge of the wing, round the corners on the
bottom of the fuselage and round the edges of the
tail feathers. Use the cross sections on the plans as
a reference. You may find it easier to use a small
razor plane to knock off the corners first.
After you have finished the rough sanding, put some
150-grit sandpaper on the sanding block and
smooth the model as needed.
INSTALL THE LANDING GEAR
If you are installing retractable landing gear go to
step R7.
Use this photo for the next three steps.
❏ ❏ F1. Install the main landing gear wires in the
wing. The wires have a 90 degree bend on each end.
One end is 1-1/2" [38mm] long and the other end is
1-3/8" [35mm] long. The shorter 1-3/8" [35mm] end
is inserted into the wing.
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